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Ian Coutts was born on 27 April 1928 in Herne Hill, south London and attended Dulwich College.[3] He played both rugby and cricket for the school's first teams. He went up to Oxford University from Dulwich, although with a break due to National Service. Coutts was selected for the 1950 Oxford University A side and in 1951 and 1952 won blues for cricket. He also won a rugby blue.

After university Coutts played his club rugby for Northampton and was also a regular in his schools old boys side, the Old Alleynians. He made his international debut for Scotland whilst still at Oxford, on 13 January 1951 at Colombes against France. Scotland lost this game, and Coutts was also on the losing side when he won his second cap on 15 March 1952, this time against England.